Honoring My Veterans & More

Today America celebrates Veteran's Day.  We honor and appreciate those who have served in the armed forces and those who gave their lives for our freedom.  Serving America runs strong in my family and my husband's.  This image is of my Father - Wallace Winston Shaklee.  He served in the Marines and most notably, he was one of the first men landing on shore at Iwo Jima and was there the whole time - 215 of his company went in, and only 15 walked out without being wounded or losing their life.  When I was going through his photo box one time I found this neat little picture in a cardboard frame.  I envision that he sent this to my mom during the war.  My dad was a sweet, quiet man and I loved him.  We lost him 11 years ago.

And here is my very own hero - my husband.  He served in the US Army in Vietnam - flying a helicopter.  He was shot while flying a mission, and spent nearly a year in and out of the hospital and lost 1 5/8s inches from his left femur.  He's really lucky that they saved the leg.  I'm just glad he made it through - we were married a few years later.  He's a great guy and we're all the better from having him in our lives.  

Here is our little wall of honor in our family room.  Our daughter Amy bought the shadow box frame for Dayle and he filled it with his medals from his Army days, such as the Air Medal, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross, etc.  My Uncle Fred put one together for the medals my Dad would have received - but he refused the medals telling them that the guys who deserved the medals had given their lives.

I let Caleb use my iPad and he played Angry Birds and I was amazed at how good he is at it!  It wasn't long until he'd won all the levels!

Buddy was looking particularly fetching so I snapped a photo.  Don't mind the crayon bin and drawings all over the floor.. both boys love to color!  I think I'll get a little table down from upstairs and have them use it for their art projects.

When I got home yesterday from a visit to our son's house in Vancouver, WA - I noticed that the Pin Oak is almost fully red.  Gorgeous!

Then I noticed that my Japanese Maple was brilliant red, so I trekked up behind the house and across our little creek for some closeup shots with my new iPhone 5S.  

Red red maple.. pretty.. I'm not looking forward to the long winter with bare branches.

I trod through the blue vinca ground cover to spy the red leaves in the water.. 

Back down to the deck and a shot of my maple and hydrangea with leaves turning purple.

My little garden.. soon to be leafless. :-)

Did I show you my gold iPhone?  I love it!!  It arrived on October 24th, and I didn't get to open it until the 27th when we got home from our beach trip.

I've got to rush now to make my Daughters of the American Revolution meeting, then afterward I head to the pool for my 1 hour workout.  Will you do me a favor?  Please take a moment to remember and think about those men and women who put their lives on the line every day so that we all can live in freedom.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)